Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the E-ARC. Uggg the way I loved this book. This dealt with a really heavy subject. Because even if you have never experienced you know that Alzheimer's is not something light. But the way the author wrote it and the way Elle (MFC) navigated it with her grandmother Lovie and just took some stuff ugg im even crying right now. I also want to talk about Adam (MMC) I want him as my health care provider because just the way he cares and loves it is sooo good. You will laugh and you will most definitely cry/sob in the middle of your work day lol. But it will all be worth it because this book was that good.

Fake It Like You Mean It is a mix of fake dating, forced proximity, and slow-burn romance, but with a deeper emotional pull. Elle moves back home to care for her grandmother, Lovie, only to find Adam, her live-in nurse, already there. Right off the bat, Elle and Adam clash, but when Lovie starts believing they’re a couple, they decide to roll with it.

What starts as a little white lie turns into something more as Elle and Adam navigate Lovie’s Alzheimer's and their own complicated feelings. The romance builds naturally, plenty of tension, a bit of banter, and some really heartfelt moments. It’s not just about the romance, though. The story handles family, love, and loss in a way that feels real and hits hard.

Unfortunately, I struggled with this one. It was advertised as enemies to lovers, but that didn’t really feel like the case for me. Elle and Adam have their differences, but their dynamic never fully leans into that trope. Plus, the story is heavier than I expected, with the themes of grief and caregiving taking center stage.

If you’re into fake-dating tropes with emotional depth and characters you actually root for, this one’s a great pick. It’s sweet, sad, and surprisingly funny in all the right places, but just know going in that it’s not the lighthearted rom-com it might seem.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for giving me an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading Fake It Like You Mean It by Megan Murphy. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Elle’s grandmother Lovie has always taken care of her. Now with Lovie diagnosed with Alzheimer’s the roles are reversed and it’s Elle’s turn. Once she arrives home the last thing Elle expects to find in her childhood bedroom is a man in her bed, but that’s exactly what she finds. Adam is Lovie’s live in nurse and Elle’s latest problem.

However one day Lovie confuses them for a couple and sure she’ll forget in the morning Elle and Adam decide to go along with it. Only problem….she doesn’t forget.

This is such an adorable premise and as a fan of fake dating, I loved this take on it. While I didn’t see Elle and Adam as true enemies to lovers they definitely had that vibe and I loved that too. Especially their “not so meet cute”, I’m becoming a huge fan of those.

This is a slower burn romance but once it heats up, it *heats* up. These two were a perfect combination of steamy and sweet. The way they couldn’t keep their hands off each other but also could cut down to it and be real was goals.

Although I have no personal experience with Alzheimer’s, I know there are millions who have so it was nice to see that representation in a book and I feel the author did a great job with it.

This was headed towards a five star until I got to the end. There was a line about seeing a picture of her at the house before meeting her that just rubbed me wrong way. It took me out of it but that was probably just a personal thing.

This was Megan Murphy’s debut and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Read if you love:
💜 Alzheimer’s rep
👩‍❤️‍👨 Fake dating
🔥 Slower burn
🌶️ Mix of sweet and spicy

Thank you Alcove Press and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Buckle up because we are about to get emotional. This book was EVERYTHING to me. I didn’t know how I was going to react since I just lost my grandpa to Alzheimer’s this past December. However I feel like this book also healed something in me I didn’t even realize was broken. The FMC Elle was brought home to help take care of her grandmother while waiting to be able to bring her into a full time care facility. While she was there she ended up meeting Adam the nurse that was staying in house to take care of her grandmother full time. It definitely took them a minute to adjust but they were able to really help each other with processing her grandmother declining health. I cried more than I would like to admit but I couldn’t help it. It hit close to home. I was really obsessed with Adam and Elle and their dynamic. It was sweet and spicy and addicting to say the least. I am so thankful NetGalley allowed me to read this amazing book. And I definitely need a physical copy on my shelves ASAP.

4.5
Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC.
I really enjoyed this debut novel by Megan Murphy. I thought this was such a clever take on the fake dating/forced proximity trope. I thought the book handled the struggles and heartbreak that one faces while caring for someone with Alzheimer's with so much truth and humor it choked me up.
I found Elle to be funny and relatable, Adam to be the best kind of unreal. How much he cared and gave everyone his all. I appreciated the growth all the characters got to have, and I loved Lovie’s and Elle’s goodbye. It was so poignant.

My only complaint with the book (and honestly most people probably won’t even notice this or care because it's not the point of the book) as a person who coordinates in home care/hospital discharges and a history of Medicaid case management, was that it was stated that Medicare pays for placement-it does not pay for long term placement. I also don't think Lovie wouldn't have had her own coverage and staying on her deceased spouses' plan seems unlikely. Additionally, no agency would have only one person working round the clock(I get why, for the sake the story, Adam was the one working). It didn't really detract from the book, it just irked me a bit while I was reading it at the beginning because I usually spend my days crushing people's hopes when I tell them that Medicare doesn't pay for placement and that's either private pay or they have to go on Medicaid and sell their homes/assets to be eligible.

2 stars

This one was tough for me because while I felt the writing style was good, I was overall confused by this story. The enemies part made no sense to me and felt incredibly childish both for the reasoning and the way they acted. It also felt incredibly pointless to hate each other like that because there was so much else going on that would’ve made for a better trope. Every thing also felt disjointed and inconsistent. The faking it part was such a tiny plot point despite it being the name of the book. The romantic or spicy moments came out of nowhere. Whole conversations came out of nowhere and had no point. I feel like I have no clue who these characters are because Elle was always having really deep conversations with strangers and has lived only 2 hours from her hometown for years yet she’s closed off and runs when things get serious? She hasn’t been to see Lovie in a decade yet she’s only 27 and talks about times she was there as an adult? And Adam was just…flat. He was mean and grumpy (yet perfect to everyone else and in every possible way) in the first half then suddenly he’s a Teddy Bear and still perfect in every way. They’ve barely been dating when she asks for him to leave his family and home to move with her. Which again is 2 hours away and they don’t even consider long distance (yet when he does move, it’s still an hour away??). I have a lot more to say but basically I left confused with no feelings for any of the characters. Unfortunately this book felt like both too much and also not enough.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Elle has always relied on her grandmother, Lovie, but now it's her turn to take care of the woman who raised her. With Lovie’s Alzheimer’s getting worse, Elle moves back home, only to find Adam Wheeler—a stubborn live-in nurse—already settled in. They don’t get along at first, but when Lovie becomes convinced that Elle and Adam are a couple, they decide to play along, thinking she’ll forget by morning. Except she doesn’t. As the days go by, pretending turns into something more, and Elle starts questioning if their fake romance might actually be real.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster, blending heartwarming romance with heavier themes like illness and caregiving. The chemistry between Elle and Adam feels natural, and their fake-dating dynamic is done really well. Their growing feelings develop at a believable pace, making the romance all the more engaging.

One of the best parts of the book is how it portrays Lovie’s Alzheimer’s. It adds depth to the story, making it more than just a romance. Megan Murphy’s writing style is heartfelt and engaging, balancing humor and emotional moments beautifully. Overall, Fake It Like You Mean It is a touching, funny, and deeply moving read that stays with you even after the last page.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was very well written. Adam and Elle had great chemistry and reason for connecting with each other. I really loved their commitment to taking care of Lovie. Alzheimer's is such a delicate and tough topic, that I felt was dealt with very responsibly and realistically. As someone who has been in a similar position to Elle, I really appreciated that. I would highly recommend this lovely and moving story.Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review..

Megan Murphy’s debut novel was so real, raw, and honest. It dove deep into what it is like taking care for someone with Alzheimer’s, how it takes a village to get through those times, the reality of caregiver burnout, and still managed to give us an incredibly sweet romance.

In just a few pages you get to witness Elle’s journey. She’s stubborn, strong, and relatable. Adam is logical, observant and sweet. Both grumpy. And together they stumble through life and fall in love in one of the best slow burn, fake dating, forced proximity (yes there is only one bed) romances I have read this year.

Fake It Like You mean it is sweet, fun, relatable, heartbreaking, and spicy, all rolled into one. Definitely deserved those 5 stars and I think I will be recommending it to EVERYONE. It is worth it!

Elle meets Adam when he is the nurse caring for her grandmother who has Alzheimer's. Soon they are fake dating then falling for real, but when they leave this bubble? Looking forward to more from this author.

Elle is a popular podcast host who has to return to her small town to assist in caring for her grandmother with Alzheimer's, Lovie. Adam is the live-in nurse caring for Lovie until she can move to a full-time memory care facility. Elle and Adam have some ups and downs, but they learn a lot about each other and themselves along their journey of caring for Lovie.

I could not believe that this is Megan Murphy's debut novel! Her writing is up there with the best of them - funny banter, a swoon-worthy MMC, and multiple tropes in one (fake dating AND a single bed, I mean come on!). I can't wait to read more of her work!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)

Publication date: 18 March 2025
Publisher: Alcove Press

A woman burdened by her grandmother's advancing Alzheimer's finds herself entangled in a fake relationship with her grandmother's live-in nurse. Honestly, what could go wrong, right?

Elle, our caregiver-turned-fake-girlfriend is relatable in her chaotic attempts to juggle family, feelings and the ever-present Adam Wheeler. Adam, the live-in nurse with a penchant for being a "pain in the ass" is your classic grumpy-sunshine combo and the banter between him and Elle is genuinely entertaining. Murphy also handled Alzheimers with a delicate balance of humour and empathy.

However, the enemies to lovers transition was a bit rushed like they skipped a few chapters of character development. I think there could have been more feuding just to make the storyline a little more believable.

Ultimately, this book is a sweet and quirky debut that delivers a healthy dose of feel-good moments. It's a solid three stars – a bit messy, a bit predictable but undeniably charming.

When she gets a phone call telling her her grandmother Lovies's Alzheimer's is getting worse, Elle drops everything to move back home and help the woman who raised her. She's expecting things to be difficult, but they're even worse than she could have ever imagined as the loving woman she remembers has no idea who she is and is always violent and beligerent towards her. Thankfully, live-in nurse Adam is there to lend a hand, even as Elle finds him to be a total pain in the ass. Thrown together in their desire to care for Lovie, they find themselves having to act like a couple to keep her calm. What could possibly go wrong?

I really liked the characters and the situations they find themselves in feel realistic in a way that adds comfort to what could have veered in dark and depressing territory. That the focus remains on the slowly building romance instead of Lovie's ever-deteriorating mind while still making that the focus of why they're together in the first place. It makes for both fun and sad moments that balance each other out perfectly.

It hits a bit hard to read about how much a disease like Alzheimer's can wreak havoc on a family. Murphy does not pull punches when it comes to the more negative sides of it, but I commend her for keeping the focus on the positive things that can come when you're there and have support. It's a nice little boost that keeps the story from getting dark.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the emotional and romantic read!

Famous podcaster Elle returns to her hometown in Indiana to care for her grandmother, Lovie, who raised her and now suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s. Elle is there to help take care of Lovie while waiting for insurance to cover her grandmother’s transition to a full-time care facility. To her surprise, she finds Adam, the in-home care nurse, in her bed—and he's not exactly thrilled.
Lovie, confused by her condition, thinks Elle and Adam are her and her husband, so they’re forced to play along.

At first, I had a lot of questions. I struggled to understand how Alzheimer’s patients could mistake others for themselves, and it didn’t make sense to me. But after doing some research, I learned that it’s possible and accepted it. The enemies-to-lovers trope felt a little flat. While I understood why Elle was grumpy, I couldn’t quite grasp why Adam was rude to the person paying him.

Despite that, the story grew on me. By the end, I loved it so much that my initial complaints didn’t matter. The complexity of the situation and the overall narrative were engaging, and I loved how their relationship evolved.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC!!

Oof! I got smacked right in the feels with this one.

I laughed, a lot. I cried, A LOT. I swooned, and kicked my feet, and just all around had a fantastic time reading Fake It Like You Mean It!

Wow! As a nursing student I just had to read this for the LOLs and Megan wrote a fabulous story. Fake dating and slow burn tropes were written wonderfully and really tied the whole story together. Definitely would recommend and will be adding Megan’s books to my tbr

Elle’s grandmother Lovie Alzheimer’s is progressing fast, so Elle decides to leave Chicago to be with her. When she returns to her childhood home, she finds Adam Wheeler, working as her live-in nurse. Yet Lovie believes that Elle and Adam are madly in love, so they decide to play along with the story, believing that she will forget by the next day, but she doesn’t. Soon the fake dating scheme becomes read for Elle but she wonders whether Adam feels the same.
I enjoyed the banter between this couple, who at first disliked each other until they realised that there is more to their feelings. Lovie is the person that binds them together, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow while they cared for her. This aspect makes their relationship more realistic, as it is difficult to hide the pain that comes with caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. While Lovie struggles, it is even more painful for Elle, who knows how her grandmother has changed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a cute and fun book! I loved the ease of it all. The premise was sweet and a fast and easy read. Lightheaded but a bit more spice than I prefer. I’m all for a good forced proximity romance!

Sometimes fake-dating romances stretch the boundaries of credulity. This one, where Elle and Adam find themselves pretending because Elle’s dementia-affected grandmother Lovie believes them to be a completely different couple, does not. Their start is inauspicious - podcaster Elle has no idea what’s involved in caring for Lovie, and Adam is delightfully, unapologetically grumpy - but the way they gradually fall for each other is beautifully done. Add in an unflinching depiction of the realities of dealing with dementia and Elle’s struggles to work out how to move forward with her life, and this novel packs a true emotional punch alongside moments of humour and genuine sweetness. It’s one that will stay in my memory for quite some time.